Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-25
MEXICAN LETTER.
How Christmas is Observed by Our
Southern Neighbors--- Noche
Buena Turkey Invasion.
No Place In the Wcrld Where the Con-
feciioner's Art Is Brought TO q
Higher Degree Of EIaborateness.
Tho Mass of the Cock Celebrated In the
One hundred and Twenty Blk Catholic
Churches Of the Capital.
Special Correspondence Of the Gazette.

Special Correspondence Of the Gazette.
CITY OF MExIso, Dec. 16.-Christmas
time shows this old city OF the Montezu-
mss at its best. The yuletide season of
fsstivity and feasting is observed
by the Mexicans to the fullest extent.
More than month before the great day
the columns of Fl Monitor, the Two Re-
publics and every other paper published
in the capital are crowded with advertise
ments announcing the arrival of rich SUBJ
stsntisls and elegant dain.ies specially
adapted for Christmas cheer. Iropuato
and Salamanca send strawberries sweeter
and richer IN fsvor than any the United
States can produce in June. From Irolo
and its neighborhood come barrels upon
barrels Of pulaue, tequila and mescal, the
three national beverages of Mexico, all
derived from the juice OF the msguey
plant. Msltrata and the terra
caliente, or shot country" beyond.
contribute tropical fruits of every
known variety, Including many to which
jewellers in the states are utter streng-
ere, Vaya. l should never have done
were 1 to enumerate half the various
parts of this country which send delica-
cies to the capital to tempt rich epicures
and tantalize needy ones at the solemn
end joyous seasons Of Christmas tide.
A full 70 'tnight before noChe buena
(literally good night, but also used by the
Mexicans to signify Christmas eve) tlere
is regular invasion OF turkeys into the
city. Mexico rivals the United States in
its fondness for these popular bipeds,
and large f0cks OF them ere always to be
observed in every country place. I'M
mense numbers Of them are seen pouring
through all the gates Mexico is Still sur
rounded by the old city walls) and
streets, 6lling the air with harmonious
cluckirgs, ard tempting the appetite Of
the citizens. They are driven, as American
farmers drive sheep or cows, by queer
looking, oddly built fellows in red srrepes
and big sombreros, who are armed with
long taper wands, and devote all the en-
ergies of their being to marshelling their
noisy proteges and TO prevent them being
run over by passing veicles, OF which
they are in great danger, notwithstanding
the evident good will Of all the coschmen.
These turkey drivers possess remarkable
tact and skill, which is displayed to the
best advantage when two rival focks
meet at the intersection of two thorough
fares. Dashing in recklessly among the
mingling birds, with their Wands at rest,
they pick out the stragglers, methodist
confusion, and separate without loss or
interchange of property. All this ls the
work of moment. AS the droves pro-
coed on their periloEs pilgrimage their
numbers rspidly diminish. The we'll
skilled eyes of the housewife, big with
fate, pounces upon them from various
heights and stories, and selects the victim
at glance. The pavero (turkey driver
is hsiled. The ten reales (Sl.25) ne asks
for the bird are quickly turned into 8
knotted corner of his serape, and the
turkey is borne Of in triumph by his new
mistress despite his infamed and angry
countenance and the resolute kicking and
struggling of his long taper toes stretched
ont to their fullest extent.
Of all the shop windows 80 gay and
brilliant in their holiday attire, none shine
30 brightly in the December night as
those of the copfectioners. Oil and wax
lights do their utmost to dis play to the
best advantage the rich designs in pastry
and dulces (sweetmeats) with which
those windows are crowded. There is no
place IN the world where the CORRECTION
er's art is better understood or brought
to higher degree of elaborateness and
perfection than in Mexico. Many old
Mexican residents assure me that this
is largely due to the fact that
this country, prior to 1867 when
they were abolished by law, sheltered q
vast number of monks and nuns, class
of devotees who are said to be the great
est possible connoisseurs in all kinds of
sweetmeats. Be that as it NAV, the in
teresting fact remains, as Mr.. W. S
Gilbert would say, that to an American
the window of every large confectionery
in Mexico is revelation of the possibili-
ties of the confectioner's art, crowded as
it is, with cakes of such an elaborate
character as is never seen in the states,
many of them consisting OF numerous
alternate layers Cf the richest creams Ct
various colors and isvors, sugsred and
glazed fruits, etc. Partisan contectioners
may sufpass their Mexican rivsls in the
gorgeous laying out of their wares, but
for Intrinsic merit the best judges would
undoubtedly award the palm TO the
MeXlcans.
When thrown into the midst Of busy,
busting crowd, one should always
follow the main stream, especially
If he wishes to see ell that
is going on, and upon this
sound principle would recommend you
to sllew yourself TO be showed, pushed,
elbowed and trodden upon all the way
from the rich display Of sweetmeatsS in
the Gales de San Francisco snd Plsteros
until you are launched into the spacious
and handsome square OF the Plaza Mayor
This plaza was destined from it's infancy
to be an eyewitness OF sights and execu-
tons, public dances, royal bull fights,
coronation pageants, fighting and declar-
ing for ard against the pepa (constitu-
tom, fairs and markets. But blase as
the Plaza Mayor may therefore we'll be
ss regards sightseeing, it never beheld
and can never behold more varied,
picturesque and animated scene than that
which may be viewed within its precincts
on any evening OF the week preceding
Christmas, but more especially upon
noche buena, Christmas eve itself.
Even the most unlucky pedestrian IN
all This great throng which crowds the
Plaza Mayor and even surges up against
the walls of the grand old Cathedral
standing sentinel like at its head-ne
who has lost a loosely fitting hat in his
progress to the desired goal or who has
had his pocket picked (Mexican pick
pockets are the most expert OF all artists
in their line) or whose ribs lhave peen
bruised and his corns trodden upon
even he must fnd some alienation OF his
misfortunes and miseries in the contem-